Build-A-Brother

Mr. Spencer is just the right size for the tiny bathrobe belonging to Julia's Build-A-Bear, Sparkle.

Lucky, lucky boy.

Dinner Theater

Dinnertime is often a circus of sorts at our house, with Mommy getting up out of her seat to grab napkins, salad dressing, and other forgotten items, Daddy trying to make sense of everyone talking and vying for his attention at the same time, and the girls constantly dancing around the table like a line of unruly can-can dancers. In the interest of getting everyone to actually sit and eat at dinner, we implemented a new rule: if you pop up out of your chair more then once, you lose it.

Much like the "if you are late to dinner you have to eat at the cutting board" rule in my childhood home, this rule has proved to be more amusing than habit-changing. A few weeks ago when Vanna lost her seat, Julia promptly stepped in and provided her with a new one.

Never a dull moment, folks; never a dull moment.

"The oldest form of theater is the dinner table. It's got five or six people, new show every night, same players. Good enemble; the people have worked together a lot." --Michael J. Fox

Five Whole Months

Wow, did I just say five months? I sure did. I can't believe this cute baby is almost half a year old! Such a sweet and cuddly addition to our family this baby boy has been. 

Spencer enjoys long walks in the stroller, lengthy breast-feeding sessions at sunset, and trying all kinds of new and exotic foods, from prunes to green beans. He smiles with his whole body, meaning that his disarming grins (sadly not pictured here) are always accompanied by kicking legs, wiggling arms, and flipping over from front to back and back to front. This kiddo loves to chatter loudly in quiet places (i.e. church) but doesn't tend to talk a lot at home, probably because the competition for being heard is pretty darn fierce. He is a grabber and eater of all things hair, toys, and blankets. His fuzzy hair, chunky thighs, and slightly protruding ears continue to be family favorites. Bath time is a beloved evening ritual of his, with more kicking, splashing, and general merriment than I ever saw with any of the girls. He sleeps like a champ and drools like a leaky faucet.

Oh, Spencer the Brave, you are our very favorite little boy!

More Lexa Humor

I know, I know. Alexa is a little over-represented on the blog these days. But, in my defense, I spend all day with her, which means I get a heavy dose of the joy and laughter that naturally unfold as a result of being around a hilarious 3-year-old for hours and hours at a time. (There is some frustration mixed in there, too, but we won't dwell on Costco meltdowns or nap-time defiance or anything like that...)

Thankfully, with the help of the handy Notepad on my phone, I have been able to document some of my favorite things that she has said over the last few weeks, rather than merely laughing hysterically and then promptly forgetting what it was that she just said.

Here is a peek into her wonderful little mind. Please hold your applause until the end.

1) Spencer just bless you'd on my arm.

2) You have to take good care of me so I don't run away.

3) (Typing on the laptop) Lex: I'm the Mommy and you're the kid. What chores do you want to do?
     Me: Can I do the sweeping?
     Lex: Yep! And you can also make dinner!

4) (Musing in the car): You have hair on your arm to pretect you from bees that stink.

5) (After I had just told her that Craig had bought the milk that was in the fridge):
     (Audible scoff) Daddy's not a shopper!

6) (After Spencer had just woken up from a nap):
     He had a normal, wondering, sea-shark dream.

7) Me, trying to convince Lex to try something new for dinner: Just try it. It's like those chicken enchiladas         that you guys like.
    Lex: (pause.) But what is it actually?

8) (Wearing her new Supergirl costume)
     I love this stinking outfit. And I love these stinking boots.

the source of so much love and laughter, beautifully 

make-upped just like a three-year-old should be

"Fun Run" is (Still) Oxymoronic

This is the second year that the girls have participated in their school's biggest fundraiser, the "Fun Run," where the students get pledges for the number of laps around the field that they run, which total a distance of about 2 miles. Though I still contend that "fun" and "run" do not belong together in the same phrase, the girls have really enjoyed themselves and actually both excelled this year; I only say actually because it surprises me a little that any of my offspring can find pleasure in--and excel at--a sport that I believe should be reserved for being chased.

This year the weather was a little cooler than last, which I think helped everyone enjoy the run more in general...including me, of course. Thankfully the school decided to do the run on a minimum day, which I consider a genius move; tired, sweaty kids got to go home relatively soon after a 36-lap run instead of having to trudge back to class and fight off exhaustion and/or nausea for the rest of the day.

Some of this year's highlights:

First-graders at the ready

When did this long-legged creature emerge?? Sakes alive.

 If anyone can grin during the entirety of a two-mile run, it's this girl.

showing off all her laps marked on her shirt

Third-graders getting ready

stopping by for a quick hug

with the new BFF

All finished with two extra laps under her belt

All distaste for running aside, I sure as heck am proud of these little girls for going the distance!